THE Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) and the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) collaborated in an educational movie forum on the film “Mga Anino ng Kahapon” last week. The movie is about a nurse diagnosed with schizophrenia, a thought mental disorder. After the movie, Dr. Mae Linda de Luzuriaga, a psychiatrist and PMHA director, gave an input on schizophrenia.
Mental disorder is a condition that affects thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgment that result in: (1) disturbed behaviour; (2) suffering or distress; (3) decline in functioning; and (4) inability to cope with work and maintain relationships.
There are four causes of mental disorders:
*Biological – hereditary predisposition, poor nutrition during conception, smoking, drugs
*Physical – physical injuries due to accidents; bumps; drugs and substance abuses
*Socio-economic – unemployment, housing problems, poverty, dropping out from school
*Psychological – failure to adjust/cope with the difficulties in life. Grief, anxiety and painful life experiences
There are about 300 kinds of mental disorders. The most commons disorders are depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.
The World Federation on Mental Health (WFMH) defines schizophrenia as a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts. Many people find it difficult to tell the difference between real and imagined experiences, to think logically, to express feelings or to behave appropriately.
Schizophrenia is a thought disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or disorganized behavior. It is a challenging disorder since one cannot differentiate what is real and what is not.
Signs and symptoms vary in each person.
There are some whose condition just appears without warning. However, according to helpguide.org, many show some common early warning signs and symptoms:
*Social withdrawal
*Hostility or suspiciousness
*Deterioration of personal hygiene
*Flat, expressionless gaze
*Inability to cry or express joy
*Inappropriate laughter or crying
*Depression
*Oversleeping or insomnia
*Odd or irrational statements
*Forgetful; unable to concentrate
*Extreme reaction to criticism
*Strange use of words or way of speaking
There are five types of symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, and the so-called “negative” symptoms.
Delusions are firmly held idea that a person has despite clear and obvious evidence that it isn’t true. Delusions usually are illogical or bizarre ideas or fantasies. For example, one believes that he is Jesus Christ or she can fly.
Hallucinations are sounds or other sensations experienced as real when they exist only in the person’s mind. For example, one hears a voice saying ‘kill the person beside you’ or that ‘your grandmother is a monster, so kill her before she murders you.’
People with schizophrenia tend to have disorganized train of thoughts and cannot concentrate well. Sometimes, they make their own language that only they can understand. They tend also to change from one topic to another with no distinct relationship.
People with schizophrenia loses their ability to take care of themselves, or even work and relationships. They stopped taking a bath/shower and wash their clothes. They have weird or bizarre behaviors.
The so-called “negative” symptoms refer to the absence of normal behaviors found in healthy individuals. Examples: lack of eye contact, lack of self-care, social withdrawal or speak in monotone.
The causes of schizophrenia are genetic and environmental. The brain develops chemical imbalance which can be treated with medicines.
If you or someone you know has these symptoms, please consult a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will perform a thorough psychiatric evaluation and is the person who can diagnose whether a person has schizophrenia. Sadly, there is no cure therefore, it is a life-long condition. The psychiatrist will give the proper treatment to be able to manage and control the medical condition. A psychotherapy may also be needed depending on the person’s case.
Psychiatrists hold a clinic at PMHA once a week. Please call PMHA at 433-8868 for inquiries.